Chad Trautvetter
Online Editor
Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group. He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion, the student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot magazine, he joined AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.
Latest from Chad Trautvetter
Charter & Fractional
VistaJet Teams with Apex Air for Domestic Chinese Flights
Apex Air, a CAAC-authorized business jet operator, will manage and operate a China based fleet of aircraft for VistaJet.
Maintenance and Modifications
Duncan Aviation Delves into Unmanned Aircraft Mx
Duncan Aviationoined the Robotic Skies network of service centers that provide certification, maintenance and repair for commercial UAS.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
AMAC Delivers Completed VVIP Boeing 747-8i
The jumbo jet’s cabin includes custom furniture, monuments, exotic materials and artwork.
Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Plans Layoffs, Citing Weak Demand
Vero Beach, Fla.-based aircraft manufacturer expects to lay off 15- to 20 percent of its more than 750 workers as sales dip in the first half of 2015.
Argus Midyear Review Shows Bizav Flying Up 1.7% YTD
Argus’ TraqPak quarterly forecast predicts that flight activity in the third quarter will be up 1.9 percent year-over-year.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety To Add Helo Training at New Denver Center
Training programs for the Airbus AS350 B3, Airbus EC130T2 and Bell 407GX are coming at its new learning center, which is slated to open in fall 2016.
FBOs
Citing N.Y. Jobs Act, Sheltair Updating Republic FBO
Sheltair is upgrading its 66,000-sq-ft hangar at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, Long Island.
Regulations and Government
FSF Holding Safety Data Collection Focus Groups
Global Safety Information Project (GSIP) workshops being held in Asia-Pacic and Pan-America.
Charter & Fractional
Charter Broker Victor Acquires YoungJets, More Funding
YoungJets founder and CEO David Young was alsonamed Victor’s senior vice president for the U.S. market.
Maintenance and Modifications
GAMA Praises EASA's Streamlined Process for Repairs
Approach will simplify the process of making standard changes and repairs to a “broad swath” of general aviation aircraft in Europe.
Maintenance and Modifications
Gulfstream Expands Brunswick, Georgia Mx Facility
Newly constructed 110,000-sq-ft hangar more than doubles the site’s under-roof capacity from a mixture of seven large-cabin aircraft to as many as 16.
Aircraft
Cirrus To Live-test Vision Jet Recovery Parachute in Q4
C1, the second of three conforming flight-test SF50s, is currently being outfitted with the ballistic recovery system.
Regulations and Government
DTC DUATS Warns of Possible Shutdown on July 16
the FAA “intends to shut down DTC’s connections" that allow it to provide aviation weather briefings and file flight plans.
U.S. Bizav Flying Really Accelerates in June
Business aviation flight activity last month in North America soared 3.4 percent year-over-year, according to data from Argus International.
Charter & Fractional
BACA and UK CAA Team To Tackle Illegal Charters
The Baltic Air Charter Association and the UK Civil Aviation Authority held a joint seminar to discuss foreign carrier permits and illegal charters.
Safety
Safety Standdown U.S.A. Dates Set; Registration Opens
Bombardier Business Aircraft announced that its 19th annual Safety Standdown U.S.A. will take place October 6 to 8 at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Wichita.
Aircraft
Luxaviation Takes Delivery of Its First Phenom 300
now operates a combined fleet of more than 250 business aircraft, including 18 Embraer Legacy 600/650s.
Safety
ERAU's Flight Training Dept. Earns IS-BAO Stage 1 Badge
University’s Daytona Beach campus flight training department become first flight training organization in U.S. to earn distinction.
WingX: European Bizav Flying Sees Gain in June
Business aviation departures last month in Europe climbed 1.87 percent year-over-year, to 80,954, according to data from WingX Advance.
Aircraft
Bombardier Challenger 300 and 350 Get Colombian Nod
The super-midsize Challenger 300 entered service in 2004, while the updated 350 was certified by the FAA, Transport Canada and EASA last year.
Avionics
CMD's ADS-B Out Solution Expanded to More Bizjet Models
The expanded STC is an approved model list (AML) certification that now covers more than a hundreds business airplane models.
Aircraft
One Aviation Introduces Eclipse Special Edition
Factory-refurbished Eclipse 500 SE will be upgraded to include nearly all new features introduced on the Eclipse 550.
Aircraft
PlaneSense Takes Delivery of Its First Nextant 400XTi
Jet will be available as an upgrade for PC-12 share owners, several of whom have been asking for faster or longer-range aircraft.
Avionics
Satcom Direct Router STC'd for Gulfstream G450, G550
Gulfstream’s company-owned service centers have exclusive rights to perform the work.
Regulations and Government
Firm Helps Operators Navigate OSHA Cabin Rules
Corporate Aviators developed a Compliance Process Tool to ensure that U.S. companies using full-time or contract flight attendants comply with OSHA rules.
Aircraft
Frost & Sullivan: Bizav Sales To Rise 13.8% by 2020
According to the forecast, North America and Europe will remain the largest markets, even as Asia-Pacific, China, India and the Middle East rise.
Regulations and Government
U.S. Customs Opens at Cobb County Int'l Airport
Beechcraft Premier I was the first aircraft to use the Customs facility, flying directly from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau.
Corporate Angel Network Flies 48,000th Cancer Patient
On June 11, colon cancer patient James Etherton and his wife flew on Blue Beacon's Cessna Citation from treatment in NYC to their home in Illinois.
Aircraft
Flexjet Takes Delivery of Its First Gulfstreams
First two G450LXis were handed over to Dallas-based fractional provider on June 23.
Aircraft
Saft Batteries Selected for Irkut MC-21 Airliner
Onboard batteries that will provide power to start the auxiliary power unit and provide emergency backup and buffering for critical systems.
